Cook Fried Dumplings

Jamaican Fried Dumplings

Fried Dumplings are a Jamaican favourite that are easy to make and which can be served at anytime of the day. Enjoy your fried dumplings with a whole host of different accompaniments, or even as a tasty snack on their own…

I have to admit I am a lover of Jamaican dumplings and I’m not fussy which kind I get. Because, when I am eating fried dumplings, I love them the best. But, when I am eating boiled dumplings, I love them the best!

Dumplings are a simple food, basically flour, salt and water kneaded together and pinched and plopped into hot oil until golden brown. But oh how so versatile and delicious!

A staple part of the Jamaican diet and whether fried or boiled they make a filling and delicious accompaniment and side dish to many other Jamaican dishes. Ready to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner start experimenting and cook fried dumplings!

First things first, thoroughly wash your hands and scrub underneath your nails if you can. If you have chipping nail varnish / polish, I recommend removing it all, otherwise you may you have on even less (and the dumplings will be wearing more) after kneading the dumplings – if you get what I mean!

Gather all your ingredients and cooking implements together and put them on the counter top so you have everything within reach and you will also save time and make it easier for yourself.

You Will Need:

a large bowl to knead the dough
a measuring cup and teaspoon
a Dutch Pot or large frying pan to fry the dumplings

Ingredients:

Use Either, 3 Cups Plain (counter) flour mixed with 3 tsp Baking Powder
Or, 3 Cups Self-Raising Flour
1/3 to 1 tsp Salt
3 tsp Sugar (can be omitted if preferred)
3 tsp Butter, or Margarine (can be omitted if preferred)
¾ Cup Water, or enough to make a firm dough
¾ Cup Cooking Oil, or around 1 inch deep

How to Cook Fried Dumplings

Preparation:

Set on your Dutch Pot on a medium heat and leave for about 2-3 minutes to warm up, then carefully add the cooking oil and leave to heat up (Keep children away from the Hob)
Meanwhile, add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix together evenly
If using butter / margarine, add this to the dry ingredients and rub the flour through your fingers until it mixes together with the butter evenly and resembles fine breadcrumbs – do not leave blobs of butter in the mixture
SLOWLY add the water and constantly knead the dough until it is firm and there is no dry flour in the bowl.
The dough should NOT stick to your fingers once finished and should form into one large ball
Pinch a golf ball sized piece of the dough and place in the palm of your hand, use the other hand to fold the outer edges into the middle until the dumpling has a ‘firmness’ to it
keep kneading in this way for about 30 seconds until firm
Form into dumplings: have fun! You can either roll dough into a ball, form into a sausage shape, make a knot, or roll it into a ball then press flat on two sides to form a 1½ high biscuit
Leave formed dumplings to one side of the bowl until the oil is ready

Method of Cooking:

Carefully place dumplings into the hot cooking oil and leave for a few minutes until they are fried golden brown on the underside
Gently turn over and brown the other side – do not overload the pot, the dumplings shouldn’t be touching one another too much
You can encourage the middle of the dumplings to cook by pushing a fork into the centre of the dumplings and turning it over into the oil; the hot oil will surge into the fork holes and cook the inside
Test the dumplings are cooked by pushing a fork in the middle of the dumplings, if it yields and the fork comes out clean, its ready to come out of the oil
Use a fork to remove dumplings from the oil, shake lightly to remove excess oil and place in a covered bowl with paper towelling in the bottom to drain off any remaining excess oil and keep warm
Fry remaining dumplings and serve – Enjoy!
WARNING! Please remember that the pot and any remaining oil will stay hot for a long time – Move it away from the front of the stove and leave somewhere where children cannot pull it over them until fully cooled

Recipe Notes:

Serves 4 -6 people

Takes about 10 minutes to prepare and another 20 minutes to cook

If you want to feed more people, just increase the quantities to enjoy this delicious Jamaican food…

What can I eat with Fried Dumplings?

Wondering what to eat with your Fried Dumplings?

Where would Jerked meats and Fried Escovitch Fish be without fried dumplings?

Or, the National Dish of Jamaica ‘Ackee and Salt-fish’; which is delicious stuffed inside split open fried dumplings, by the way.

Fish lovers can eat fried dumplings with Red Herrings, sardines, or tinned mackerel.

Vegans can enjoy fried dumplings with Steamed Callaloo or, Jamaican style Steamed Cabbage.

The list of suitable accompaniments is endless…. Just Cook, Nyam and Enjoy!

This recipe for fried dumplings goes fast, so make sure you make enough for everyone to eat seconds!

Jamaican Recipes

If you enjoyed this Jamaican recipe and want to try more delicious Jamaican food, click here for more easy, filling and nutritious Caribbean food recipes.